Monthly Archives: January 2012

I was watching the news clip, “Full day kindergarten helps youngsters”, and what came across my mind as I watched it was how much society seems to be taking away from the idea of being a child. Full-day kindergarten, as the “expert” states, “allows students to do better academically, listen more attentively, get along better with their peers, and have more success in future classrooms.” What about the importance of time spent being a child? Are children growing up to fast?

If we pressure young children to spend more time in schools, could it possibly take away the ability to think for themselves, to engage in play, to be creative, and learn in their natural environments? What about time spent with family? What is your opinion on full-day kindergarten?

Just a small motivational piece for those in the teaching profession. This video tells a wonderful story about how fulfilling it is to make a difference in the lives of our students! This video reinforces why we teachers do what we do… Enjoy!

I came across this photo and what I liked most about it was the idea that everyone has the potential to choose their own pathway to life; motivation being key. All life-long learners must have things that motivate them within their learning environments. This could include a passion for learning in general or a love of a certain area of study. As an educator, what motivates me the most is the influential and positive relationships that are gained between teachers and their students.

Similar to other medias that we use in the classroom to engage learners, technology allows students to explore and broaden their knowledge in a different context. Learning in school is generally confined to classrooms and textbooks; however, the opportunities to enhance and deepen our students learning through technology is significant in our current generation. There are endless possibilities with the use of technology in classrooms, and it is our job to learn and possess the skills necessary for teaching with this media. Technology in schools allows children to explore the world in a much richer and deeper context. And because of this, children are given greater opportunities to learn about the world that we live in. It is one thing to hear about something that is on the other side of the world, but when you have the ability to witness first hand, the ability to comprehend information is so much greater. I was sitting in a lecture recently, and one of the presenters stated a quote that she had heard in Disneyland that resonated with me. The quote said: “Hearing something 100 times os not as good as seeing it once.” Technology in schools is a fascinating and valuable journey that allows educators, administrators, parents and children to think outside of the box in terms of learning and teaching.

What kinds of possibilities do you see in the future of technology in education?

I never would have thought that I would create a blog. Being a part of ECMP-355 has opened my eyes into the reality of the cyber-world as it connects with teachers, learners and the classroom. I am looking forward to documenting my journey as both a student and an educator!